Stereo Speaker Positioning for non audiophiles and people who entertain others.

No matter how carefully you choose your hi-fi it can be undone by poor speaker positioning, but audiophile guides to speaker positioning are not practical.

Typically I can hear 3 types of sound:

1. Stereo effect: This is the audiophile must, by placing the speakers about 2 meters apart and toeing both speakers inwards to create a narrow listing position (called “sweet spot”) for no more than 1 (maybe 2) people sat in sat in the correct place to enjoy. Everybody ales may get a less desirable unbalanced single channel effect but not as bad as if the speakers were set wide apart. This set up is a must for surround sound modes (I like 4 full range speakers in a 4.0):2. Unbalanced single channel effect: This is the least desirable when you do not hit the sweet spot and typically happens when speakers are sat wide apart and you have to be right in the middle of the room to pick up both channels. If you are sat closer to one speaker than the other that speaker will swamp the sound from the other channel. You will also get undesirable booming sound from the bass from speakers placed in the corners especially if you have rear bass ports:
3. Full range mono effect: This is in my opinion the most desirable and most practical way of setting speakers where everyone can benefit from both channels by widening or removing the sweet spot. You can widen the sweet spot by placing the speakers together separated by only your stereo (side by side is too close and will cause undesirable bass booming!). Speaker with rear bass ports should still avoid a corner of a room. Obviously this is no good for a surround sound setup: